Skip to content

Murder charges filed in horrific child abuse death

Police today charged the father and stepmother of a Feltonville girl who died yesterday in what investigators called one of the worst cases of child abuse they have seen.

Capt. James Clark, of the Philadelphia Homicide Unit, speaks to the press about the abuse death of 10-year-old Charlenni Ferreria outside the Round House in Center City Phila., Thursday afternoon. Clark called the girl's death one of the worse cases of abuse he has ever seen. (Bonnie Weller / Staff Photographer)
Capt. James Clark, of the Philadelphia Homicide Unit, speaks to the press about the abuse death of 10-year-old Charlenni Ferreria outside the Round House in Center City Phila., Thursday afternoon. Clark called the girl's death one of the worse cases of abuse he has ever seen. (Bonnie Weller / Staff Photographer)Read more
    by Troy Graham, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
    Published 

Police today charged the father and stepmother of a Feltonville girl who died yesterday in what investigators called one of the worst cases of child abuse they have seen.

Domingo Ferreira, 53, and his wife, Margarita Garabito, 43, both have been charged with murder and endangering the welfare of a child.

Ferreira's 10-year-old daughter, Charleeni, was found unconscious in their home in the 4700 block of C Street yesterday morning around 8:30 a.m. She later died at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children.

Investigators found that she had numerous healed and fresh injuries, including broken bones, bruises and a severe head trauma. She also had suffered injuries indicating that she had been sexually abused, but neither parent has been charged with a sex crime. The investigation is continuing.

Ultimately, Ferreira died from an infection caused by untreated rib fractures, police said.